Airship



F. H. LEINWEBER, DECD..

c. II., w. II. AIID v. H. LEINWEBER, ExEcuToRs.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 27, 1915. RENEWED APR. 30. 1920.

Patented Aug. 9, w21

YSHEETS-SHEET 1- F. H. LENWEBER, DECD.

c. H.. w. HA AND v. H. LEINWEBER, ExEcuToRs.

AIRSHIP. APPlcATloN FILED Nov.27,1916. lf,

Patented. Aug. 9, H2L

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` F. H.LEINWEBER, DECD.` C. H., W.IH. AND V. M. LEiNiWEBER, EXECUTORS'.

AIRSHIP.. APPLICATION FILED NIM/.21, 1916- RENEWED APR. 3d, i920.

r LEINWEBER, D'Ec. C. H., Wl H. AND V. H. LEINWEBR, EXECUTORS.

AIRSHIP. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 27. 19m. RENEWED APR. 3o. 920.

Patented Aug. 9.,. 192i LEIMVJEBER,

Application. lef November 27,

To ZZ ywier/fm. 'may concern .lle it known 'that l Fe imams: H. -LEIN www. o citizen of `toe Lotte@ States, and

t sesiclent of the city oi? Chicago, county of.-

islotes to impiovements in for its object the ps ovsioii of an impzovecl constifuotio `oil 'this chemotei' which is simple :mtl efficient in operation.. A. further obieet is thepiovision of on airship equipped with means ndopteii automatically render tliesume 'for towel in the uil' aime pievent 1..,1intsntioml descent tlxe'eoi.

.fi furthe? objeot is to provide impfovetl moms for operating the popellers of such ai? '9. Ollie? objects will appear lieieinoites. The invention consists in the Combina,- li'ous and zurzmgements of pests liereinate described and claimed.

The intention 'will oe best understoo. by i .rence to the aoeoropamyi'og Ll'zm'iing's '.foi'ming a port of this speeiioation, und in vsllifh,

Figure l is top plm View embodying; mj; ilove@ on., a side View oi t* un view oi? an. enleigecl secti n stszitiolly line mit Fig, 3.

Fi 5, a detail View tf.. en on line 5--5 l., G., am enlai'gecl seet'ion t.: (if-(3 oilFig, l,

Fig. i", flete'il o en eilsliip,

1 teiten on sub alien on line taken on substan- Specification of Letters atent.

Aug., 9. 3.331213..

lt. Serial lilo. 333,754. RegeWe-Atm 3%, i990. Sei-iai No. 373,816.

Fig. l5, a section teken on line 15-15 of Fig. le,

Fig. 16, a flete-il View of one of s plurality of manually operative valves employed. in the construction,

Fig'. i?, en enlarged vdetail section of one of the Valve mechanisms employed in the ooos'tiieton, y 4

Fig. 18,@21 enlarged section taken substentielly on line 18ml@ of Fis. 4, and

Fig.' i9, an enlaged section teken on line llwl of Fig. fl.

rlllne preferred. iorm of constellation as illustrated in the drawings comprises a substanielly gigM-slxaped car or combing@ 20 mounted to fest oir 'tr-.wel upon t'actioh wheels 2l anni equipped. with laterally eX- tending tubular supposte oi* ozu-r s 00, all oonstituting the Emme of 'the oirship. Eareh of the supports 22 is piovioled with sloping under surfaces 23 adapted to :iet as elevating u l forced anti stliene centrally by truss work 2&2. Al. its outer end each of the supports 252 carries anoperatofs housing or easing 24's having; substantially if-shaped shielr's 25 et its forward olmo ieal'wei'l Asioles to aplanes when the oirsliijp is driven 'forwaldly y f eilitate the passage tholeoi through the air. Y lnteml combustion engme umts 2G :mtl 2'? L positioned in each of the housings Qll with 'theii" engine shafts 28 and 29 in' lon gitudinal alimentent with euch otllei, Gear iy wheels 30 mtl 3l are iixed respectively emilie shafts 28 and 29 and are provided with 'Jl-fiction clutch suffices arranged to ew gag "ietion clutch members 32 angl A33, which me splined or Afeotheecl on a. shaft B aranoed between the en fine sha'ts Q8 ered 29 oaxielly therewith. Shaft Si oarries a Worm 35 meshing with@ corresponding .wenn wheel 36 on 'a sleeve or hub 3,? lgeyecl 'to another sleeve or hub 38 which is irotetsbly mounted inv the correspmxdit]'gl holsig 24C to project centrally through the outei' wall thereof. Each of the hixbs 38 is '.lmoimtecl upon roller bearings 39 on. a stipI portulg head. lll) and radiating hollow pro- 'pelle supporting arms il are formed integelly with the outer portion of each of the hubs 3 es shown. lf)

@Ich bf the 'arms el,

carriesv at `its outer end an engine crank case 42 and tour internal combustion engine cylinders 421 are mounted on each ot' said crank cases in diametrically arranged pairs, as shown. llacl'i of the engine cylinders 43 is equipped with a suitable piston 44 connected by a connecting rod 45 with a crank pin 40 of a crank shaft 1li' mounted in the corresponding crank case.

Fuel supply pipes 118, 49, and 51 extend through each ot the 4l to the respective engine cylinders thereon lor supplying fuel thereto, said pipes being connected respectively at their inner ends with annular fuel channels or grooves 52, 53, 54: and termed in the inner face ot a closure cap 50 threaded over the outer end of the corresponding hub 36 as best shown in Figs. 6 and 9. Each of the supporting 4heads. 40 is provided with iuel grooves corresponding and registering with the grooves 52, 53, 54 and 55 and fuel passages 57, 58', 59 and 60 are eritended through said head to communicate with said grooves. Likewise fuel supply pipes 61, (32, 6555 and 64 connect the passages 57, 522i. and G0 respectively with fuel supply tanks 65, 66. 67

and 68 located in the upper portion oi the car 20. lily this arrangement it will he observed that the arms 41 may be readily adiusted to different angular positions with reference to the horizontal and that diilerent kinds, or grades of' fuel may be readily supplied to the dilerent engine cylinders.

An internal gear 69 isfixed to the outer end ot each ot the crank shafts 47 surrounding a spur gear 70 fixed to the inner end ot' a propeller shaft 71 supported in tinl outer end 72 of theV corresl'ionding crank case 42. For this purpose the outer ends of the crank case 42 are split or divided as shown and thrust ball bearings 73 arranged thereinto resist the thrust of the prol'ieller blades 78 on the corresponding propeller shaft 71. llach ot'A the interna-l gears iff) is connected withthe corresponding spur gear 70 by means ot' transmission gears 75 mounted as indicated and arranged in diametrically opposed pairs about said spur lrear. By this arrangement it will be observed that each propeller will be driven at a speedv greater than the speed o'l the corresponding crank shaft 47, that the transinission stresses and strains will be evenly distributed and balanced and that the thrust of the propeller blades will be transmitted directly lo the I the corresponding' arm 41 thus relieving' the corresponding engines constructions' from all of such strains.

As best shown in Fig. 10, cylinders 70 and 77 are arranged about the opposite ends of each of the shafts 34 and pistons 7H and '79 formed at the inner ends ot sleeves $40 and 81 on the friction clutch memliicrs $32 and 33,

-cylinders 76 and 77 as shown.

corresponding crank case and thence. to

respectively, operate in said cylinders. (,oml'nession springs 82 are interposed between these pistons atcach end of the corresponding cylinders to normally maintain the clutch members and ESB in central or neutral positions. Air supply pipes 83 and S-l lead from the outer ends of the cylinders 70 and 77 to an air supply passage 85 in a valve casing 86 positioned centrally with reference to the corresponding shaft 34. A. vertical passage 87 leads from the central portion ot' passage S5 and communicates at its upper end with a transversepassage 88 having ports 89 and 90 at its opposite ends as best shown in Fig. 17. Ports 89 and 90 cooperate with substantially L-shaped ports 91 and 92 in slide valves 93 and 93' arranged in casing 86 and normally held in outward positions, by means of compression springs 94. Passages 95 and 96 are formed in valve casing 86 under valres 93 and 93 and are connected hy bowed passages 97 and 98 with vertical passages 99 and 100 in the central stem portion 101 of the valve casing. Passages 102 and 103 are formed in valve casing 86 outside of passages 95 and 9G. and air pipes 104i and 105 lead therefrom to the inner ends ot the corresponding Exhaust ports '106 and 107 are arranged in Valves 93 and '93 to cooperate with exhaust ports 108 and 109 in valvecasing 80 to exhaust passages 102 and 103 and the inner ends of the corresponding cylinders 76 and 77. Valves 93 and 93 carry upstanding brackets 110 and 111 operating through slots 112 and 113, in the top of the valve casing H0., as best slwwn in Figs. 17 and 11.' Brackets 110 and 111 carry rollers 114 and-115 set in the path of stop lugs 110 and 117 formed on the side oi" the corresponding worm wheel 30. rl`he arrangement is such that after each of the worm wheels ll'pcrlorms a certain part ot' its revolution.` the corresponding valve l'l or 92V is shifted to simultaneously exhaust the inner end oil the cylinder 70 or 77 and to supply air under pressure to the outer ends ot' said cylinders from pas sages 99` and 100 which are air suppl)v passages.'as will be explained more fully hercinal'ter. This serves to automaticalyshift the lriction clutch members 212 and :l-l inwardly to engage stationary braking i'riction members l aud l/ to slop further movement ol the corresponding worm wheel. As indicated above, revolution, of each oll the worm wheels 30' serves to adjust the corresponding propellersI 74- to vary the direction of thrustA The arrangement is such and the stops 1113 and 117 are so positioned that when thc propellers are shifted from positions in which they exert a vertical thrust to positions in which they exert a combined vertical and horizontal thrust, when the vertical resultant ot' the thrust of ila . maintain the airsliip at the altitude reached.,

as shown.

the propellers becomes just suiicient the valve 93 or J3 is shifted to prevent iur ther movement and said valve is automati cally 'locked in this position.

Likewise when the propellers are reversely shifted, when they assume a position to ei;- ert a verticalthrust, thelyv are again auto matically locked in such position.

A valve casing 118 is formed in the stein portion 101 of the valve casing' 8G and a manually operable valve 119 is slidahly mounted therein and equipped with an operaf-ing wheel 120, as best shown in Fig. 1.7. As best shown in Figs. 17 and 16, the Valve 119 is provided with two diametric ports 121-and 122 arranged to connect the passages 99 and 1Q@ with passages 123 and 12e respectively, the ralve 119 when in this position being neutral and ineffective. lCne Valve 119 is also provided with two helical ports 125 and 126 arranged to he shifted to connect passage-99 with passage 126i and passage with passage 123. Passages 123 and 124; are employed for supplying conipressed air to or exhausting passages 95 and 96, as will appear more :tally hereinafter. Y

The arrangement is suchv that when the automatically operating valve more fully hereinafter set forth is disconnected and rendered ineffective, each propeller may he manually controlled by valve '119, as will be readily understood., or the valve may he shifted to neutral position where it becomes entirely ineffective.

Another valve casing 127 is arranged at the lower end ot the stem 101'. and 'contains a slide valve 128 normally held in neutral or central position by means ot compression springs 129, as best shown in Fig. 1'?. i At one side valve 128 is provided with a passage 5u arranged to connect *passage 123 vith an exhaust port 131 when the salve l28 is shifted into one position and the other side ot the value 128 is so shaped as to place passage 124i in communication with an exhaust port 1.3.; when said vaive is-shii'ted into its oppo.` te position. The valve 12S is provided ruth a centrl compressed air supply passage or chamber 132 receiving,` a constant supply ot' compressed air through a pipe 133 connected with a compressed air tank 133', as best shown in Figs. #land 17.

Valve 128 which is provided with laterally extending stems carries armatures 1321 co operating; witi. electro-magnets 135 and 136, An aneioid barometer 137 o' any usual design or construction is arranged to cooperate with` valve 128. as best shown in Fig. 10. Electro-magnet 135 is connected hy one Wire 138 with an insulated segmental plate 139 contactine with oneI arm 140 of the ordinary indicator iiiger'xii .the aneroid barometer. Electro-magnet 135 is also cony an n ated by Wire through a switch 142 d a battery 1&3 w i one end of aseries o resistance coils 144 connected at intervals with. bridging contacts L and 146, as sl'iownu .liiifewise-i, the electro-magnet 136 is similarly connected los wires 14'? and 1li-8 with a Contact plate 1li@ ant with a similar series of resistance coils 14e. The arrangement is such that as airship rises to hie-her altitudes, the indicator iinger le() tliereol3 will be rotated in the usual manner to cause the ends thereof to traverse tliediiferent contacts 145 and 146. The eiiect of this act-ion of 'the indicator iinger 1li() is to gradually introduce resistance into the circuit for electro-magnet 135 and out out resistance from the circuit for electroniagnet 13G, as will be readily understood. The tension of the springs 129 is such that when the airship reaches predetermined altitude, the valve 12S will he shiited by this action oi' the electro-magnets to cause introduction of air into the inner end of' the cylinder T 7 exhaust oi the outer ends of cylinders 7G and 7i', thus causing` :friction clutch niemb-er 323 to shit-t into engagement with the gear 'iy wheel 31. The engines 26 and 27 are coi'istantij,T operated to cause rotation ot' the lgear iy Wheels 30 and 31 in the di rections of the arrows indicated in 10, so that engagement oi the member 33 with the member 31 causes rotation ofthe worm wheel SSG in thev direction of the arrow in dicated in. Fig; 10.' lilifhen the liu; 117 contacts with the roller 115 the valve 93 is shifted to the position indicated in Figs. 10 andv 17, lthus oshaustinr 'the inner end o cylinder 7i' and supplying compressed to the outer 'emisor th oli the cylinders 7G and 7'?, Forcing the i iction clutch'ineinhers B2 and 33 inwaroll'y to engage with-the corresponding` stationary ifictionmembers 32 and 315 to fir-.tomatieailjfy'` ioclr the parts in this relation, ig. 1G showing; the friction ciutch members in the middle oi their movement. in case the airship, should descend, the indicator arm leid jviil caused to me. tate through decrease in a urle. thas cutting out resistance from niaggiiet 135 and .cutting in resistance for magnet 136, so that the springs 129 overcome the magnets and return the valve 129i to initial position in which compressed air will he furnished to the inner eri/lof cylinder 76 andthe outer end thereof eiliausted thus shifting` clutch member 32 into engagement with member and starti g the increment oil Worm wheel 36. "When worin wheel. nas moved sufficiently to set the propellers in position to exert only a veiftieai thrust, the valve 93 is automatically shifted to exhaust the inner end ot'cylinder 76 supply c:nnpressed air to the outer ends. oi? both the cyliners 7G vand 77, thus discontinuing the motion oi' the worm `wheel 36 and the propellers fai;

and automatically locking the parts in place. Yifhen the predetermined altitude has been again attained, the indicator finger 14() again operates, as outlined above, to discontinue the elevation and cause horizontal travel of the ship. In this manner the ship will be automatically prevented from departing materially from the predetermined altitude.

Il' desired at any time, the switches 14:2 may be opened, thus discontinuing.T the automatic' regulation as to altitude and the various propellers manually operated by manipulating the wheel 120.

The gear fly Wheels 30 and 31 in each set are operatively connected by means of a 'counter-shaft 149 carrying gears 1 50 and 15h. Gear 150 is connected with gear 31 by means of idlers 152 and 153, and gear 151 is connected with gear 30 by means oan idler 1'54., the arrangement being such that the gears and their coperating parts will be forced to operate in unison with each other, and upon failure or'` either of the engines 26 or 27 the other engine Will .perform the Work of both and also tend to start the operation of the disabled one. The direction of the travel of the airship is reversed by shifting valve 119 to the position indicated in Fig. 17.

While I have illustrated `and described the preferred form of construction for car.

rying my invention into effect, this is capable` Vof variation and modifica-tion Without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1, therefore, do not Wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth.'

but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appended claims. v

` Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. An air ship comprising a frame; propellers adjustable on said frame; clutches connected to adjust said propellers; pneumatics for operating said clutches; and altitude operable means for operating said pneumatic-s, substantially as described.

2. An airship comprising a' -frame; propellers adjustable on said trame; clutches connected to adjust said propellcrs; pneumatics for operating; said clutches; valves controlling said pneumatica; and altitude operable means for operating said valves, substantially as described. V

3. 'An airship comprising a frame; propellers adjustable on said frame; clutches connected to adjust said propellers; pneumatics for opera-ting said clutches; valves controlling said pneumatica; clectroinatfnets controlling said valves; and altitude operable means for operating said magnets. substantially as described.

4.-. An air ship comprising a frame; propellers adjustable on said frame; clutchesl connected to adjust said propellers; pneumatics for operating said clutches; and means for automatically disconnecting said clutches after a predetermined operation, substantially as described.

5. An air-ship comprising a frame; propellers adjustable on said frame; clutches connected to adjust said propellers; pneumatics for operating said clutches; valves controlling said pneumatics; and meansfor automatically disconnecting said clutches after a predetermined operation, substantially as described.

6. An airship comprising,- a frame; pr pellers adjustable on said frame; .clutches connected to adjust said propellers; pneumatics for operating said clutches; valves controlling said pneumatics; electromagnets controlling said valves; and means for automatically disconnecting said clutches after a predetermined operation, lsubstantially as described. l

7. An airshi) comprising a frame; propellers adjustable on said frame; clutches connected to adjust said propellers; v'pneumatics for operating said clutches and means for automatically locking said propellers in I adjusted positions, substantially as described.

8. An airship comprising a lframe; propellers adjustable'on said frame; clutches connected to adjust said propellers; pneu-` and means for automatically loclring said 'i propellers in adjusted positions, substantially as described.

11. An airship comprising a frame; propellers adjustable on said frame; adjusting devices connected to adjustsaid propeller's; means for operating said adjusting devices; valves controlling said means; and means for automatically locking' said propellers in adjusted positions, substantially as described.

12. An airship comprising a frame; propcllcrs adjustable on said frame; adjusting devices connected to adjust said propellers;

means for operating saidadjusting devices;

valves controlling said means; electromag- :laissais able on said traine; altitude operable means arranged to adjust said propelling means at a predetermined altitude to exert a borizontal thrust; and automatic means tor locking said propelling means in adjusted positions, substantially as described.

15. An airsliip comprising a frame; adjustable propellers on said frame; driving means for said propellers adjustable therewith; altitude operable nieans for adjusting said pi'opelleis; and automatic means for locking said propellers in adjusted positionsfsubstantially as described.

1G. An airsliip comprising a franie, propellers adjustable on said frame, adiusting devices connected to adjust said propellers, ineans for operating said adjusting devices, and altitude operable nieans for operating said adjusting device operating means.

17. An airsliip comprising a frame, vertically thrustingl 'propellers adjustable on said trame, adjusting devices connected to adjust said projellers, means for operating said adjusting devices7 and altitude operable means arranged to operate said adjusting de vice operating'nieans at a predetermined altitude to exert a horizontal thrust, substan i tially as described.

18. An airship comprising a frame, propellers adjustable on said frame, mechanism for adjusting said propellers Witli relation to said frame, and altitude operable means for operating said propeller adjusting mechanism, substantially as described. i

19. ln an airsliip tbe combination of a,

car, supports extendingr laterally 'from said car, said supports 'forming airplanes, an arm pivotally mounted on each end of said support, a propeller at each end of each of said arms, and means for operating said propel- 1ers substantially as described.

20. ln an airship the combination of car, airplane shaped supports extending laterally from said car7 said supports forming airplanes when tlie ear is driven forwardly or baekivardly, an arm pivotally mounted on each end of said support, a propeller at each end of each of said arms, and means traversing said supports for operating said propellers, substantially as described.

In testimony vwhereof I have signed my naine to this specilication in the presenceo two subscribing Witnesses.'

FREDERICK H. LEINWEBER.

Witnesses:

JOSHUA RfH. Porfrs, B. G. RICHARDS. 

